Messi showed up to this exhibition version of el Clásico, the clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Spain’s iconic soccer match. Ronaldo didn’t. Real’s Portuguese star was on short rest, having played at the FIFA Confederations Cup and due to face tax-evasion charges in a Spanish court Monday.

“Even if you’re not a soccer fan, you know who Ronaldo is,” said Arbise González, a Miami resident.

Love him or hate him, signing a brand-name star like Ronaldo could be crucial for Miami’s long-hoped for MLS franchise, said Neil W. Blackmon, who runs a popular soccer blog called the Yanks are Coming.

“This is an event town,” Blackmon said. “There’s no question Ronaldo enjoys the spotlight and I think Miami would embrace that.”

But where was the team’s public face, former Real star and England captain David Beckham? Surely he’d glad hands, slap backs and win headlines at Miami’s biggest-ever soccer game?

Alas, according to team spokesman Aaron Gordon, he was on vacation.

“With his crazy schedule,” Gordon said, “it’s really the only time of year he’s able to travel with the kids.”